Browse Exhibits (2 total)

The 2015 Baylor Libraries Symposium, “Alice at 150,” held October 6th through 9th, recognized the 150th anniversary of the publication of the children’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, authored by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson using the pen name Lewis Carroll. When the symposium theme was announced, it brought to mind a project I had been considering for some time—an inventory of children’s literature held by the Armstrong Browning Library. In the development of ABL’s book collection, children’s literature has never been a focus. The only items actively collected in this area have been editions of Robert Browning’s poem “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” I knew, however, that other books for children were in the collection. After extensive searches of the Baylor University Libraries’ Online Catalog, using keywords and subject headings related to literature for children, I was shocked at the number of titles located at the ABL. In addition to the over 150 editions of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, I uncovered over 240 other children’s literature titles. So, not only are we recognizing Lewis Carroll and 150 years of Alice, we are celebrating the discovery of a hidden collection by presenting this exhibition, A World of Their Own: Children’s Literature at the Armstrong Browning Library.

Included among the books, tracts, and pamphlets in this exhibition are fables, children’s classics, poetry for children, children’s literature by famous authors, and instructional literature. As the nineteenth century progressed and literacy achieved new heights, publishers began to recognize the financial benefits of providing books for children, particularly for the Christmas and Easter markets. Children’s literature, as a genre, began to reach maturity. The books offered for children began to include not only instructional materials, but some, like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, that opened a world of nonsense, fantasy, or adventure—a world of their own—to the children of the period.

This exhibit examines the uses of "religion" in the 19th century through materials found at the Armstrong Browning Library, in conjunction with the "Uses of 'Religion' in 19th Century Studies" international conference, March 16-19, 2016.

The navigation of this digital exhibit mirrors the physical exhibit installed at the Armstrong Browning Library, with each page corresponding to either a topic or a presenter featured at the conference. We encourage you to step through the exhibit from Elizabeth Barrett Browning to Peter Otto in order to best experience the exhibit as it was presented for visitors to the ABL.

This digital exhibit was created by the Digital Projects Group using materials held at the Armstrong Browning Library. To view the ABL's collections in the Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections, please visit http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu.